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I have a related question for the experts. As a minimum for most situations, people tend to recommend a dynamic on the kick, and condenser(s) overhead. What is the benefit of 2 overheads rather than one? Is it just to pick up a wider spread?
Thanks in advance.
I prefer L & R above the hats and ride and straight down to minimise the snare pickup depending on the drummers playing style.
I use a pair of condensers in ORTF arrangement, typically central over the whole kit, or slightly towards or above the snare.
Drummer is Dave McCluskey, playing with Heather Findlay at the NCEM.
Eqd Speaker Cranker clone
Monte Allums TR-2 Plus mod kit
Trading feedback: http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/60602/
You only tend to need or be able to use condenser overhead mics on larger stages. Dynamic cardioid mics have a reasonably tight pattern so although drum spill will get in guitar and vocal mics it's generally manageable as in 75 % wanted signal 25% unwanted spill being a typical bad scenario. With condenser mic's the pattern is far wider and even .... on a typical small stage with the guitar amps only a metre or so from the drums the condenser mics will pick up everything as well as the drums. This can be a problem with more like 50% wanted cymbals and hats and 50% unwanted out of phase shit sounding spill !
For pubs, small to medium club gigs you generally find it's best to mic the kick and toms .... whether you mic the snare depends on how hard your drummer hits. For some drummers their snare hit is so loud it will get into the vocal mic's, the guitar mic's and your be fighting to reduce it not make it louder. Other bigger gigs or softer hitting drummers mic the snare as well.
Don't aim the tom or snare mic too far down towards the drum .... it may seem like the right thing to do but the sound of the head develops above the head not on it. Try a gentle angle down and try to put the mic somewhere the drummer won't hit it but also so the hi hat and ride are in the mics dead zone ... otherwise a tom or snare mic can quickly become a hi hat or ride mic.
If you are gonna use overheads then a quick and trusty method is to use a spaced pair equal distance from the snare and pref in phase with the kick drum. As ever though with drums the results will totally depend on how well the drummer can balance themselves ..... with drums you literally can't polish a turd